Annibale Siconolfi, AKA Inward, is a great 3D artist and architect that immerses us into his complex utopian and dystopian cities as well as his futuristic landscapes. 

NEOPARK by Annibale Siconolfi

Can you start by introducing yourself, where you’re from and the medium you’re using?

My name is Annibale Siconolfi, I’m a 3D artist from Italy and I studied architecture, which is currently my profession. I also produced electronic music in the past so I have a lot of experience in sound design. All those elements converge into my art. The formation of architecture was important for me because I learned composition which is a primary element you can find in my artworks. I started making 3D art 6 years ago. When I discovered the work of artists like Beeple and Paul Chadeisson, I fell in love with this medium that seemed more artistic. So I came out of my architectural work and started to experiment with other types of 3D art. I chose Inward as an artist name a year ago for a musical project since I really liked the idea behind this word. In Italian it’s “verso l’interno,” which translates to “towards the inland or inwards”, and through my music and my art, I want to explore my internal world.

How did you discover your interests in art and music? Did you have influences around you growing up that encourage you to pursue your creative path?

It all started as a passion, when I was young. I drew a lot and produced hundreds of drawings at the age of 5-6 years old. It was an obsession. At the age of 10, I started playing guitar – I suddenly discovered this fabulous world of music. Around 16 years old, I started experimenting with sound design and during that time, I really saw the analogies between visual art and sound design since, as you know, the concept of saturation is something that you can see in both pf these mediums.Today, certain elements converge in both types of art. For example, noise – I like to use it in sound design as well as in my visual art, like the green noise I use on some of my artworks. So my artistic path was really natural for me. Plus, through feedback from great artists such as Beeple and Grimes, I continued to get inspired.

What are some of your own early influences that guided you in developing your own style?

In terms of traditional artists, I can mention Le Corbusier as an architect. He experimented a lot with his work; he studied from natural to more rational architecture. Another artist and architect that I really admire is Louis Etienne Boullée. He drew these utopian architectures with big buildings characterized by pure forms that integrate well with nature. In terms of digital art, Beeple has been a big inspiration for me. His work mainly consists of science fiction which inspired me a lot. I began adding my own mystical science fiction touch to my art and that also pushed me to discover 3D art which has helped me enhance the quality of my work.

How did you live through the pandemic?

I live in a town near Naples, in Italy. Living here I have peace and quiet to dedicate myself in my art so the pandemic wasn’t as difficult on me. Before the pandemic, I was making work on overpopulation which I always thought it was a strange coincidence, I’m not a prophet. I also know that Phillip Deek, the writer, already spoke about pandemics. I think it’s something that we should all be prepared for or at least have seen coming.

How did you become aware of NFTs and crypto art?

I entered the NFT world back in December 2020, and January 2021 was when I discovered artists like Beeple. I sent a message to the SuperRare staff and a week later they replied, happy to have me on board. So I started my journey in visual art in January and then I did a drop on Nifty Gateway. Step by step, I discovered an amazing community and many great collections.

Any details on future drops or projects to come?

I have a drop on the first Italian NFT platform, which is a really great project because it’s a platform created for artists by artists. It is called the Museum of Contemporary Digital Art created by Serena Tabaki. She created this 2 or 3 years ago. This drop will be exhibited in Milan Italy Throughout the city. Another NFT project I’m currently involved in is one that I made for a traditional Italian auction house called Cambi. They decided to merge with the NFT world, and so they contacted some artists from that market. Finally, I have the project for 0x Society in the Solstice themed exhibition. It’s an honour for me, since I’m the only Italian artist on board. I’m also helping them build their virtual art gallery.

Lastly, do you have any advice for any artists starting in the NFT space?

I think artists should follow their heart and passion, and not only imitate the style of the moment because trends come and go. Something that you do with love, passion, experimentation and sacrifice is long lasting. In the end, they need to construct a style, and when you find your style, you need to take it to the extreme. You can’t think about the trends. Your artwork is your legacy in this world so you need to do it with your heart.